Stuck in XP Hell

[Lee Munzer]

I have Windows XP. While working with MS Word yesterday I decided to close
a document. It closed, but I received a message telling me, "Microsoft Word
for Windows has encountered a problem and needs to close. We are sorry for
the inconvenience."

The box also forced me to make a choice between "Send Error Report" or
"Don't Send". Whichever choice I make, I cannot get back into MS Word
without getting that box.


Today, limited by sub-par computer smarts, I researched, attempted, and
failed with these efforts:

1) I tried restarting and then shutting the computer off.

2) I tried restoring XP to a few weeks ago (All Programs.... System Tools...
System Restore).

3) I pressed CONTROL/SHIFT/ESCAPE and tried to end task (the Word program).

4) I deleted the MS Word program and reinstalled it using my 25 alphanumeric
keycode.
(I was very optimistic about this one).

5) I tried re-starting XP in safe mode (pressed F8 as the reboot occurred).

6) I have tried to open word docs in every way (from my computer and from
disks for example) and can't escape the dialogue box of doom.


All serious suggestions welcome (one or two humorous ones are also okay as
I've
had a bad day and could use a laugh or two).

Lee

 

[Yves Leclerc]

Locate all/any Normal.DOT files. Sometimes a bad software can modify the
Word standard template (Normal.DOT) and a quick way to fix this is to
"delete". Word should recreate it automatically.

Y.

 

[Shane]

I don't know if it'll work for this - I've never had to use it anyway - but
search for and delete 'normal.dot'. Cures many Word problems.


Shane

 

[CWatters]

This might be a silly question perhaps but ...have you tried opening other
(or new) word docs - or have you only been trying the one you were working
on?

 

[Lee Munzer]

"CWatters" ...

This might be a silly question perhaps but ...have you tried opening other
(or new) word docs - or have you only been trying the one you were working
on?

I would like to thank you, Yves, and Shane for the assistance. The "error
box" prevented me from getting to Word, so I couldn't create, edit, or even
see a doc.

I'm a poker player/writer and since RGP (rec.gambling.poker) is a big 8
newsgroup and I contribute there, I posted OT (off topic) and they solved
the problem with detailed instructions to accomplish exactly what Shane and
Yves had correctly diagnosed. In case anyone encounters the problem here's
what I was told when I asked for detailed instruction on finding/renaming
the normal.dot file:

"It is a hidden file so if you haven't done it already go to My computer,
then the Tools menu, then Folder Options, then click the View tab, find
Hidden files and Folders and click Show hidden, then Unclick Hide
protected operating system files while you are at it. Then go to Search,
then click Find files or folders, then type normal.dot into the All or
part of a filename box and click the search buttom.

The default location of the file is in the folder
Cocuments and Settingsuser nameApplication DataMicrosoftWordStartup
(replace user name with your user name)."

I followed the instructions in the first paragraph and XP asked me to
reinsert my Word 2000 SR1 CD. I did that and was back in business.

Lee